Ashlar block protector



Feb. 23, 1932. R. F. DALTON ASHLAR BLOCK PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 16, 1929 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1932 ASI-ILAR BLOCK PROTECTOR Application filed December 16, 1929. Serial No. 414,276.

This invention relates to protectors for building blocks, and more particularly the face and edges of the block which are exposed when the block is incorporated in a wall or other structure. f

. In its preferred embodiment the invention is adapted for use in connection: with an ashlar blookwhich'consists of a hollow terra cotta' body portion having one face'which presents an ornamental surface or front face bounded by relatively sharp edges and sharp corners. It often happens that these edges or corners, or even the front face will be chipped or otherwise defaced daring trans-' portation and handling of the blocks, whereby the block is rendered unfit for use, where the appearance of the wall or other structure is important. 7 l v :One object of the present invention is to provide means which when positioned upon a block will provide protection for the front face, and the edges andcorners thereof. 1

Another object of the invention is to. provide a protector whichmay be formed by a single die operation from a relatively cheap sheet material. Thus it is so inexpensive to manufacture that it may be'disoarded after but a single use. v p

Another object of the invention is to provide a protector for building blocks which will retain itsposition upon the block at all times, without the employment of separate securing means, yet which may be quickly Another object is to so design the protector that portions may be forced into openings in the block and thereby serve as means for holding the protector in place.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the protector comprises a single piece of sheet material, preferably cardboard,

scored to providea main body portion hav- 1ng side and end QXtQIISlOIlS: :The main body portion is of a size which will completely cover the ornamental face of the block to which it is to be applied. The side and end sections fold along the score lines to a position where they cover their respective side and end faces of'the block and completely enclose the side and end edges and the corners of the block. The side extensions have end portions which underlie the end sections of the body portion to insure retaining of the side extensions in protecting position, and the end extensions are so formed that they-provide tongues adapted to fold inwardly of the passages of the hollow block. The tongues are of a width suflicient to causetheni to frictionally engage the side wallsof the-passages of the block with sufficient friction to retain them therein, and thus retain the entire protector against accidental displacement relative to the block.

. Referring tothe accompanying drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated in a preferred form, a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ashlar terra cotta block,

Fig. 2 is a plan view on a smaller scale, illustrating the protector in blank form,

Fig. 3' is a perspective view of the block shown in Fig. 1 with-the protector applied thereto, V V

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the block and protector shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. i, and 1 stripped from the block and discarded, preferably by the mason wholays the block.

Fig. 6' is a transverse sectional view taken a on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

The ashlar terra cotta block shown in Fig. 1 has front and back wallslO and 11 and side walls 12. A web or wall 13 extends longitudinally of the block and divides the hollow interior into two passages 14. The front wall of the block is the one which is exposed when the block is laid and this wall maybe tinted, roughened, glazed or of other ornamental character. The side walls 12 are slightly channeledto provide shoulders 15 with which the binding material, such as mortar or cement, may interlock when the blocks are laid.

In Fig. 3 the block is shown as having its front face, a portion of the side walls 12 and the ends of the walls 12 and 13 partially enclosed in my improved protector.

The protector is made from a blank of relatively cheap material, such for example as cardboard as shown in Fig. 2. It includes amain body portion which conforms to the shape of the face of the block to be protected which in the present instance is rectangular. The blank is scored longitudinally adjacent to its side edges as at 21 to provide side extensions 22 and is also scored transversely as at 23 to provide end extensions 24. The scoring lines 21 and 23 extend throughout the length and width respectively of the blank. The score lines 23 terminate in slits 25 to provide end tabs 26 for the side sections 22 which may fold along the end portions 27 of the score lines 23. The end tabs or sections 26 of the side sections 22 may, if desired, be cut out as at 28, so that the width of each is the same as the thickness of the wall 10. The end sections 2% have slits 29 spaced according to the thickness and spacing of the walls 12 and 13 and score lines 30 connecting their respective slits 29 and spaced from the score lines 23 in accordance with the thickness of the wall 10. lhus there are provided tongues or tabs 31 which are adapted to bend upon the score line 30 into the passages of the block, and a plurality of intervening depending leg-like members 32 which overlie the ends of the side walls 12 and the web wall 13 to provide protection for the same. It is to be understood that if the block be the same at both ends, the protector also will be the same at the two ends.

The main body portion 20 of the protector corresponds in size to that of the area of the face to he covered. The blank is placed upon the block and folded first upon the score lines 21 to fold the side sections 22 downwardly along the side walls of the block as indicated in The locking tabs 26 at the ends of the protector are next folded into engage- .m out with the end of the block by folding the score lines 27. In this position, the tabs 26, due to the fact that they are cut out as at 28 will conform to portions of the ends of the side walls 12 and the end of the front wall 10 of the block as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The end sections 2st are then bent downwardly along the score line 23, to overlie the infolded tabs 26 and serve to retain or lock the tabs 26 in folded position. The tongues are then bent inwardly into the passages 14., as indicated in igs. 4E and 6.

The tongues are preferably of a width slightly greater than the width of the passages 14, whereby this additional width causes the tongues 31 to slightly buckle as indicated at in Fig. 6. This produces a frictional engagement between the side edges of the tongues 31 and the faces of the walls 12 and 13, causing the tongues to bind at this point sufficiently to be retained within the passages 14; and thus retain the protector against accidental displacement during ordinary use and handling. Thus the tongues 31 hold the end protector portions in place and at the same time hold the tabs 26 in place and prevent outward swinging of the side protectors 22.

The side extensions 22 of the protector extend to a point below the shoulders 15 adjacent the ornamental face of the block, thus serving to enclose these shoulders and prevent chipping thereof, which chipping might possibly extend to and damage the ornamental face of the block.

The protector may be stripped from the block just before laying or setting of the same, preferably by the mason, and inasmuch as the protector is intended for but a single use, care need not be exercised in the removal thereof. To remove the protector, it is only necessary to engage the fingers beneath one of the side extensions 22 and by a pull, strip the protector from the block whereupon the protector is discarded and the block is ready for laying or setting.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides a cheap protector for the ornamental face of ashlar terra cotta blocks. which serves to protect the ornamental face, its edges and corners, does not interfere with the handling or transportation of the block, is readily removable with respect to the block, and which is of such simple and cheap manufacture that it can be discarded after a single use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protector for ashlar terra cotta blocks comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion, side extensions adapted to fold around the side edges of the block, and end extensions adapted to fold around the end edges of the block, and having portions adapted to fold into the block to secure the protector in position.

2. A protector for ashlar blocks having an ornamental face defined by relatively sharp edges which terminate in sharp corners, said protector comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion adapted to completely cover the ornamental. surface of the block, side and end extensions adapted to fold around the edges of said ornamental surface, said side extensions having integral portions adapted to underlie the folded over end extensions to retain the folded over side extensions in folded over position, and portions for retaining the lie lilo

folded over end extensions in folded over position. V

3. A protector for building blocks of the type having a front face, anda passage extending longitudinally therethrough, said protector comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion adapted to cover said face, side and end extensions adapted to be folded over the edges of said face, and having portions adapted to be folded inwardly of the air passage of the block for securing the protector in position.

4:. A protector for ashlar blocks having an ornamental face, and a passage extending longitudinally therethrough, said protector comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion adapted to cover the ornamental face of the block, side and end extensions adapted to fold over I the edges of the ornamental face ofthe block,

and tabs cut from the end extensions of the protector adapted to fold inwardly of the air passage of the block for securing the protector in position.

- of Queens and State of New York, this 13th day of December, A. D. 1929.

RICHARD F. DALTON.

5. A protector for building blocks of the 7 type having an ornamental face, and a plurality of passages extending longitudinally therethrough, said protector comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion adapted to cover the ornamental face of the block, side and end extensions adapted to fold over the edges of said face, and tabs cut from the end extensions adapted to fold inwardly of the passages of the block for securing the protector in position, said tabs being of a width slightly greater than the width of the said passages, whereby they will be retain-ed therein by fric tional contact with the walls of said passages.

6. A protector for the ornamental face of hollow building blocks, comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion adapted to cover the face of the block to be protected, side extensions adapted to overlie the side faces of the block, and end extensions cut to form portions paralleling the end faces of the walls which form the hollow block, and tongues adapted to fold inwardly of the block to hold the protector in position on the block.

7. A protector for the ornamental face of hollow building blocks, comprising a single sheet of flexible material including a main body portion adapted to cover the face of the block to be protected, side extensions adapted to overlie the edge faces of the block, and end extensions cut to form portions paralleling the end faces of the walls which form the hollow block, and tongues adapted to fold inwardly of the block and frictionally engage the inner faces of the walls of the block to secure the protector in position on the block. 7

8. A protector for building blocks comprising a single sheet of flexiblematerial includ- 

